Leveling Up With My Dragon System

Chapter 69 Academy Trial

He explained that they would be participating in the Academy Trial, a series of challenges designed to push them to their breaking points and uncover any weaknesses that could be exploited. "This trial is crucial for your development as node bearers and as members of the academy," he continued. "You'll be tested in combat, strategy, and survival. Only the strongest will proceed to the final stages of your education."

The team looked at each other with a mix of excitement and anxiety. They had come so far together, but they knew that this trial would be their toughest challenge yet. The stakes were higher than ever before, and failure was not an option.

"The first round of the Academy Trial will be a solo combat tournament," Colonel Skai announced. "You will each face recruits from other teams in a one-on-one battle. The winners will move on to the next round, while the losers will be eliminated."

Kai felt a knot form in his stomach. He had never been one to crave individual glory, preferring to work as a cohesive unit with his team. But he knew that this was a necessary step in their growth.

The tournament began with the lower-ranked recruits facing off first, giving Kai and his team time to mentally prepare. They watched as their peers demonstrated their skills, some with breathtaking finesse and others with sheer brute force. Each victory and defeat was met with a mix of cheers and gasps from the audience.

As the tournament progressed, the battles grew more intense. Kai noticed the diversity of nodes and the creative ways they were being utilized. It was a stark reminder of the vast power within the academy and the responsibility that came with it.

The time finally came for Team 12 to enter the fray. Frode was the first to be called. He stepped into the arena with confidence, his opponent a Hawk node bearer from Team 7. Frode's magic node allowed him to manipulate gravity, making him a force to be reckoned with in combat. The Hawk node bearer attempted to blow him off his feet, but Frode simply bent the gravity around him, planting his feet firmly on the ground.

With a smirk, Frode launched a volley of small meteorites at his opponent, each one a precise and powerful assault. The Hawk node bearer dove and weaved, using his speed and agility to dodge the incoming projectiles. But Frode's control was impeccable, and soon the other recruit was backed into a corner. With a flick of his wrist, Frode sent a final meteor hurtling towards his opponent. The impact sent the recruit flying out of the arena, unconscious but otherwise unharmed.

The crowd roared with excitement as Frode was declared the winner. Next was Ingrid, facing an Ice node bearer from Team 14.

The two opponents circled each other, the tension palpable in the air. Ingrid's eyes narrowed as she studied the other recruit's movements, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The Ice node bearer launched a shard of ice at her, which she easily deflected with a sonic boom from her palms. The sound echoed through the arena, momentarily stunning her opponent.

With a swift motion, Ingrid propelled herself forward using her sound node, closing the distance in a heartbeat. She unleashed a barrage of sonic attacks, each one aimed at shattering the layers of ice that protected her opponent. The Ice node bearer retaliated with a wave of cold air, but Ingrid anticipated the move and used it to her advantage. She redirected the wave back at the recruit, the intense cold colliding with the heat from her sonic attacks to create a thick fog.

The fog obscured the battle from the spectators' view, leaving only the sounds of the clashing elements to give them any indication of what was happening. The recruit tried to use the fog to their advantage, but Ingrid's acute hearing allowed her to track their movements easily. She could hear the subtle crackling of the ice as it formed around the other recruit, and she knew exactly when to strike.

With a swift punch, Ingrid's hand shot through the fog, shattering the ice and connecting with the Ice node bearer's stomach. The impact sent the recruit staggering back, gasping for breath. Ingrid didn't let up. She followed through with a series of sonic blasts that sent the recruit skidding across the icy floor until they crashed into the arena wall. The crowd gasped as the Ice node bearer slumped to the ground, defeated.

Ingrid's victory was swift and decisive, and it sent a message to the remaining competitors. Team 12 was not to be underestimated. Annika was up next, her opponent a Bear node bearer from Team 16. Known for their brute strength and Ice control, Annika knew she had to be smart in this fight. This was water against ice.

The Bear node bearer roared, charging forward with the weight of a glacier. Annika stepped aside at the last moment, the bear's momentum carrying it past her. She took this opportunity to strike, sending a jet of scalding hot water at its back. The Bearer roared in pain, its ice armor cracking under the heat. Find your next read on empire

The crowd watched with bated breath as the two combatants clashed, their respective elements dancing around each other in a display of raw power. Annika's water whips cracked like a lash, each one sizzling as it met the opponent's icy skin. The Bearer swiped back with its massive paws, leaving trails of freezing air in its wake.

Annika was quick on her feet, using her water jet to keep her distance while peppering the Bearer with waves of heat. The Bearer stumbled, trying to close the gap between them, but each step it took sent a spray of shattered ice in all directions. Frode and Ingrid watched intently, their eyes gleaming with tactical analysis.

"She's using the heat to destabilize his ice," Frode murmured to Kai.

"It's a risky move," Kai observed, his gaze fixed on Annika's nimble dance around the hulking figure. "But if she can keep it up..."

The Bear node bearer was getting angrier with each hit, its movements less precise and more desperate. Annika saw her chance and took it, aiming a powerful jet of steam right at the Bearer's face. The recruit's eyes widened in shock as the steam melted away the ice shielding their face, revealing the human beneath. The Bearer stumbled back, momentarily blinded.

Annika didn't waste any time. She rushed in, her hands now a whirl of boiling water and steam. The Bearer roared in pain as Annika's attacks focused on the exposed skin, the heat causing their fur to sizzle and steam to rise. Despite their size and power, the Bearer was no match for Annika's speed and precision.

With a final burst of energy, Annika spun around the Bear node bearer, her hands leaving a trail of scalding water that encircled the opponent's legs. The ice cracked and shattered as the water froze, trapping the Bearer in place. The recruit roared in fury, but it was too late. Annika delivered a final, devastating blow to the base of the skull, the water instantly freezing solid on impact.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Annika was declared the winner, her victory adding to Team 12's growing reputation. Kai felt a surge of pride for his teammate and a newfound respect for Annika's tactical prowess. He knew that she had studied the Bear node user's weaknesses and exploited them masterfully.